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di93 – :
I was hesitant about Givenchy perfumes, they are too stuffy, too pretentious for my pedestrian taste. But Hot Couture had me at first time. In the beginning it jumps at me with champagne bubble, reminding me of chypre fruity perfumes popular in 00’s like Miss Dior Cherrie. Later it greets me with warm, slightly sweet amber note. In winter season I get smoked raspberry, but in warmer months it’s just elegant spicy amber and attracts me compliments. When I want something more sexy in this genre, I go for Tuscan Leather.
elassyEneva – :
Wearing on a really cold fall day
It lasts because I keep smelling
it all day 😮 I think, what other
people??? No compliments.
UPDATE: THE DRYDOWN
had me change from “like”
to LOVVVE OMG Divine
ivan57775 – :
I swear I’m anosmic to this. Every time I test it, it’s just a vague idea of a berry on top of a musty sort of wood/musk base. This cannot possibly be what people rave about!
sekos32goda – :
My lounge room smells like this.
Because I left an item of clothing with it sprayed on it on the back of the lounge.
Amazing longevity on skin and clearly longer on fabric.
‘beastmode’!!
arsweb – :
A nicely done fragrance.
This was pre the celebrity fragrance movement that lead the fragrance industry to become watered down.
Good quality scents like this are now going niche.
kasper82 – :
Having (and still enjoying) the Hot Couture Eau de Toilette makes it is very hard to fall in love with the Hot Couture Eau de Parfum. It sadly pales in comparison to the brightness and potency of the EDT.
The EDT has a bright, kind of raspberry note that lasts all day. The kind of “cigary” smell balances it out. While I can’t even seem to smell the EDP once it is on me. The bright raspberry smell of the EDT is barely noticeable; and, since I can barely smell it once it’s on—it seems to have no longevity whatsoever. I am surprised that some say they get compliments with this one—I can’t even seem to smell it. While the EDT has garnered many a compliment and even has had my husband ask me if I was wearing perfume after a full shift of work (he never “talks” perfume)—I cannot see the EDP being even close to this. The scent is not bad, but, it is not the best either. It smells similar to the EDT, but way more toned down, lacking any kind of “spark”, even having a note that comes through as a little nauseating. Will definitely stay with the EDT (in fact, you would think that the Eau de Toilette should be named the Eau de Parfum).
kobopet – :
I tried this on in the Givenchy Boutique and absolutely fell in love with it. It is a warm and sweet gourmand scent. The dry down of the base notes: amber, musk and sandalwood are so seductive smelling.
I’m definitely going back to buy a big bottle of this soon.
novich – :
This has been on my shopping list forever! I went to Sephora to smell it, but they didn’t have a bottle so I blind bought it online – bad idea. I’m so mad that I paid so much money for a Givenchy fragrance to smell like Aquolina’s Simply Pink. It’s different for the first 5 minutes then becomes Simply Pink which is a fraction of the cost! I’m so annoyed.
Update: I ended up wearing this a few more times (mostly because perfumania.com won’t let me return it), and I’m pleased to report that it is more complex than Simply Pink. They’re definitely similar but this one more citrus and sour. Also, the vetiver makes it different from the usual raspberry vanilla sugar bombs.
– Is Aquolina’s Simply Pink an exact dupe? No, but it’s close.
– Do I think the price difference is worth it? No.
– Would I repurchase Hot Couture? No.
– Do I still regret the purchase? No, but I’m not ecstatic about it either.
asdfghjkl – :
My lover put this on after his shower, grabbing a bottle I had left out in easy reach.
This is really appealing on him.
I’m surprised this works on a man.
who knew?
qqq70 – :
I’m impressed with the vetiver in this one! Vetiver usually smells very pungent on me, like cat pee, but here, it resembles the scent of paper. It’s so smooth! It reminds me of those Italian scented notebooks (Pigna) I used to be crazy over in primary school. It’s a very pretty fragrance, delicate, kind of ethereal. Oh, and I was surprised by the maturity of this raspberry too! Longevity is great, sillage is medium to skin scent.
amaksyakoff – :
To Enevictor: I don’t own Hot Couture but I recently tested it. On me, it smelled a little “masculine”, as I’m more into “sweet” and girly frags these days, especially for summer. I personally prefer the EDP over the EDT for longevity and sillage. I think you may like it due to the peppery note, amber, bergamot, musk and vetiver being more dominant here, especially from the opening. To my nose, it is not a sweet enough or girly fragrance. However, in the end of the dry down, the raspberry did stand out on my skin a little bit. Don’t know if you like that or not. But it was there in the end.
If you can’t find a small sample anywhere, I think a smallest size bottle (1.7 oz 50 ml) does not hurt at a reasonable price. Besides, IMO, this one can definitely be layered nicely with something else. Hope this helps.
Саша Бородач – :
HELLO!
I am a man and I am excited by the prospect of vetiver, pepper and raspberry in this perfume.
I want to ask those who have it : CAN THIS BE WORE BY A MAN?
An anticipated THANK YOU!
freekmax – :
For a scent starring raspberries, Hot Couture is mature, sophisticated, and very sensuous. I am currently wearing a few spritzes from my mom’s bottle (she’s had it for around 10 years). It’s rich, tart berries and some indistinct florals riding a thick warm cloud of peppered musk and woods. The berries here are on the dry side, and abit jammy, not too sweet. I smell raisins, a freshly opened pack of berry-menthol cigarettes and a deep amber. And something like the smell of crisp dollar bills. It’s very late 90’s and early 00’s in feel.
Something a successful ‘cougar’-type would wear as her signature. If this scent was a woman: She’s a red-lipped CEO in a big city, ambitious, dripping with charm, drinks fine wines, wears black lace underneath a power suit that hugs her curves, and sky high Louboutins. An alpha woman. She has a well-preserved, ageless look, so she could be 30 or 50, no one can really tell. She smokes Virginia Slims, lights scented candles in her tastefully decorated office, and chews sugar-free blackberry gum in an attempt to quit smoking. She is skilled at straddling the line between ‘sweet and humble’, and ‘cold hard bitch’. And yes, she loves her haute couture gowns, and wears them like they are second skin.
Huge sillage, excellent longevity.
goa283Negeltzex – :
I had a bottle of this laying around for ages… Even though I liked the way it smelled I was always overwhelmed, possible because I lived in really hot climate. But I got to enjoy this warm peppery raspberry, magnolia and sandalwood mix fully once after I moved to another region. It is warm, sweet and spicy.
I’m moving around a lot and finally got tired of carrying everything I own with me all the time. So I don’t see myself buying another bottle soon, not before I reduce the number of perfumes I own only to a few.
smooven – :
Sweet raspberries with some woods and musk to add a bit of depth. It’s delicious, but a bit immature. Similar to Miss Dior Cheri, but more complex.
mto645bedyWelty – :
Wore this in 2008, at 17 years old. Bit mature for my age at the time, but I like to believe I used to pull this off:).I wore it going out at nights, clubbing (I’m Serbian, we didn’t get carded, basically nobody cared about your age,( was cool at the time, now I find it to be quite a sad thing)).It reminds me of going to the club knowing my crush (my husband,now) would be there, it’s so nostalgic, have to find it somewhere, just to smell it for a minute or two. Before finding out about Fragrantica, I thought this was a strawberry peppery perfume, now I see that it was actually raspberry.Elegant, but at the same time sexy. I remember it lasting super long,and the sillage was amazing, that’ s why I never wore it to school, I found it to be a bit inappropriate for that. If you find it somewhere,give it a try, it’s stunning.
sansanuch777 – :
Love this one! Imagine the smell of ripe berries slow cooking with brown sugar and a seasoning of peppercorns and maybe a dash of nutmeg. YUM!
The EDP lasts throughout the day. A classic.
linkin1819 – :
I received this in a swap and was sad to find it a bit “meh”. I thought I would love it based on the notes but on my skin sadly, it’s pepper and not a lot else.
1977kristina – :
I absolutely adore this perfume! It smells like popcorn and raspberries. A lovely warm smell that lasts forever! LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!!
Tiniupdantatt – :
Okay, so what I get here is a Fruity smokey tobacco Sweet peppery scent, it’s really an unique mixture, reminds me a little bit of cristal noir from Versace which has a creamy peppery scent, instead of fruits it has coconut, but anyway back to hot couture, do I like this mixture? No, I gave it to my sister and asked her don’t use it whenever I’m in the place!
,,,, a month later she told me that she took it to the gym with her and broke it ✋
A good option For anybody who loves sweet & Smokey!
magnoom – :
This one is nice but only “nice” It is a warm fragrance and so much sweet. Longevity and sillage is good. Many men love that perfume. Maybe it can be a gourmand perfume.
Beperarefax – :
Fruity floral with a twist. The pepper makes it interesting while the fruits provide some freshness and femininity. The vetiver provides a masculine edge that balances out the other elements. Nice and perfectly unisex, but not impressive. Would be great for spring/summer and/or as a safe gift for someone you don’t know very well.
wertyser2010 – :
At first spray I get a holiday style rich syrupy warm raspberry spiced pie filling. I was anticipating a cherry tobacco pipe type smell and this is not quite like that, but I’m not disappointed because after the delicious raspberry I get powder with a hint of incense smoke. I haven’t smelled another perfume like this. It’s feminine but definitely edgy and smart- Hot Couture is a perfume for all the Hermione Grangers! The edp is definitely more interesting and better lasting than the edt- not sure why it’s harder to find. Quickly loving this and can definitely see this becoming a staple during the cold months. I could see this fitting almost any age category because it’s more of a personality than a time of life scent, if that makes sense. So worth the blind buy!
ja-maks – :
Amazing
Reedlinniluts – :
This was the first bottle of perfume I actually bought on my own for myself. I had been given a little sample vial of it by a friend who knew my tastes and had smelled this while she was out in department store. She thought I would like it so she gave me the sample. I not only liked it, I loved it! I bought a full size bottle then never turned back.
I cannot remember the last time I had this perfume and/or wore it. There are so many others in the market now that I don’t know if there’s a need for me to go back to this. But I did love the hell out of it when I did have it and would recommend it because it’s so nice.
gegam333 – :
Beautiful unique fragrance. Better than the EDT in my opinion. I like how strong the vetiver is in this composition it really makes Hot Couture EDP stand out. It is less sweet than the EDT and smells sophisticated.
ramzai59 – :
I really want to love this because it’s such an unusual beautiful composition. But sadly, it makes me nauseous. Too much of the pepper I suppose :'( Will give it another chance in the winter when it’s really cold, perhaps it will make a difference.
vipamir – :
I got it last winter and since then me and Hot Couture are inseparable. What gets me in is raspberry tobacco note. I am non-smoker all my life, but many times I find fruity tobacco or incense infatuating. Hot Couture starts with intense berry tobacco soaked in leather bag, that after minutes dissolves into spicy refreshing magnolia. For some reason people are mesmerized by scent, but I feel in high temperature it becomes too spicy, straight up black pepper, therefore for summer days I choose other perfumes.
tracktorec – :
I ADORE this fragrance! To me, it sophisticated, classy, with a GRAND touch of CHIC. Its heavenly deliciousness in a BOTTLE. IF YOU’VE NEVER SMELLED THIS PERFUME, AND CONSIDERED BUYING, ITS A SAFE BET YOU’LL LOVE IT JUST AS MUCH AS I DO!
Mekeginec – :
Holy smokes, do I ever adore Hot Couture. This is a very special scent, very French, edgy yet utterly chic. This is laid-back glamour in a bottle, luxe but not uptight, and never over-the-top. The raspberry lays a deceptively playful foundation for the vetiver and pepper, which combine to give HC a somewhat smoky, pipe tobacco or cigar-like tone. Then throw in a handful of je ne sais quoi, just for good measure. This is quintessentially feminine, with a backbone. Signature scent material for sure. For me, it’s in my top six of a 114-bottle collection.
Sweaciche – :
Gourmand. Very sweet. Not unisex, girly. Raspberry+sweet candy/chocolate. There are many similar perfumes around. Good juice, but I am not impressed.
step.don – :
Cigar, makeup and class in a bottle!
aleksey289 – :
Wow. This is extremely sexy! Someone said it smelled like raspberry insense and yes it does! But so much more,besides the smokey note there is a element that kinda is leathery.
Very chic and just smokin hot! Very happy with my blind buy. Would love to smell the edt too!
This would be a perfume for a woman who has her $h1t together!!!
pavelbalyakin – :
Oh my gosh, this smells like a nightclub in the best way. It’s cigar smoke mixed with fruity perfume and sexy mysteriousness. One of the more unique perfumes still on the market right now. Suitable for all ages (perhaps above 18, but I think a brooding 14yr old could possibly pull it off).
PlayGamer – :
Hot Couture is a very glamourous and sexy perfume. It’s bright and effervescent with the raspberry and citrus notes, while the pepper gives it some attitude. The base is warm and woodsy and keeps the composition sultry throughout.
If you don’t want to be noticed, pick another perfume! This perfume has a pretty loud presence. I’m usually completely invisible to men, but when I wear this, I get some looks and smiles. Still, I hate getting a lot of attention, so I rarely wear this perfume.
Longevity is about 6 hours.
The fragrance best suits the moderate temperatures of spring and autumn. It doesn’t seem to bloom very nicely in cold temperatures, and it blooms obnoxiously in hot temperatures. I think it can be worn day or night, accompanied by a bit of sass and confidence!
Kho_Khuan – :
Wow , it seems to be my signature, I need to test it
robert1975 – :
This appears to be, at first, a typical sweet fruity scent. It opens with a nice sweet raspberry, but there’s something different about it. There are hints of pepper and a vetiver undertone, but I primarily get a dry tobacco along with raspberry.
It took me awhile to figure out it was tobacco! But other reviews say they also smell it.
I’m not sure if this is must-have for me, but I definitely want it. It’s an unusual take on popular fragrance that results in something very interesting. Definitely worth a try.
Mewtv326Unlogrere – :
I was given this as a gift and–I hate to say it–but it strikes me as a very infantile scent. Artificial raspberry blooms that take over the formula, a note of pepper that remains but remains understated to a very undefined floral bouquet–a scent that begins and end on the same note with very little change. It reminds me of teenage girls and not in an interesting way. For those seeking to relive their youth.
lizochka – :
This perfume gives compliments! It is such a unique classy french fragrance. The peppery opening and the beautiful floral raspberry is just an addictive concoction. I remember the first time I smelt this years ago on someone else and asked them what they were wearing. It smelt so delicious, I had never smelt anything like it. I would wear this on dates, my dates would always comment on how amazing I smelt! Still to this day there is nothing like hot couture and I will always own a bottle.
yfimkqotev – :
The first 40 minutes after applying on my skin it gives an unpleasant smell. I do not know whether it is because of a vetiver with bergamotka, because often these 2 ingredients are in male perfumes. I do not know what exactly this is but some irritating aroma. On my other hand i tested L’instant Guerlain edt, so maybe by comparison Hot Couture lost a lot. Now after about 2 hours it gets pretty, close-ups, slightly flower. Well, for me it’s definitely not great scent.
Over all i dont like it.
Maiklz – :
I had this one borrowed from my sister when she was bored of it. I like sweet scents but this was too much for me because it has a tobacco scent somewhere amidst of the sweetness. I’m not a smoker and actually hate the smell of cigarettes with vigor. The last straw was when a woman in the library passed me and she had poured this all over herself. After that I always thought of her and the twisting of my stomach as she passed me in the stairs and the scent was ruined for me forever. I retuned it to my sister and she later gave it to her friend. This scent brings bars, 80’s and 80’s it-girls a la Absolutely Fabulous to my mind – not for everyone that is but I can see that somebody will love this.
zender3103 – :
for me this fragrance remind me of a girl spending a day shopping in paris. It smells really sophisticate and sweet at the same time. Also remind me of an expensive cigar. Kind of weird saying that but it really smells Smocky and i think its the pepper. Very unique and i got so many compliments wearing this perfume.
SmerFFFeta – :
One word of caution: other people and animals may be sensitive to the strong pepper note in the fragrance. My cat ran away from me and had a sneezing fit shortly after I first applied this once. I do adore this fragrance though! It’s absolutely delicious and intriguing, there is nothing else like it. But wear with caution! It lasts a VERY long time! The sharpness of the pepper disappears in the dry down and I’m left with a delicately sweet and spicy fragrance, like the sweetest bouquet of carnations.
антон евгеньевич – :
I find it confident and sexy, very feminine. First spritz gives an pleasant impression: powdery amber, raspberry and pepper with a hint of sweet floral hmmm. The pepper and floral scents prevent it from being too candy like. Some more sweetness feels as vanilla comes out in the dry down and it’s like raspberry cream with a hint of spice. Very yummy. My husband always takes an extra deep and happy sniff of me when I wear it.
First I smelled it on somebody else and than I decided I have to have this
Smailers – :
I blind bought it. And I really, really like it. It is very unique. I’m actually really surprised this isn’t a far more popular fragrance! I can’t compare it to anything else out there. This is signature worthy in that it’s unmistakably and shamelessly itself. Hot couture is a new catagory of fragrance. They call it Floral here on fragrantica… I don’t know what you’d call it, but floral is definitely the wrong catagory. It’s completely unlike anything else I’ve ever smelled.
After a few wears it has become apparent that the scent was aptly named and the bigger picture Givenchy paints with this fragrance began to emerge. Hot Couture reminds me of how a Art Deco era fashion Show or posh party must have smelled behind the scenes… It smells of old fashioned powder makeup, fine fabrics on beautiful, sweaty bodies, even the tobacco of cigars and cigarettes on the lengthy, glamorous extenders of that period makes a appearance by swirling around in the background shamelessly. I know those descriptions probably seem absolutely atrocious, but I truly mean it all in the best way possible! They truly didn’t miss a beat in capturing it. It even smells “Hot” somehow, like the bright lights of showtime are shining down upon the crew, raising body heat and simmering all these scents together. I totally “Get it” now and frankly, it’s genius!
This has a touch of sweetness to it without being in any way too sweet or remotely gourmand. More like the natural sweetness of fresh raspberries or a fruit platter. But actually not even that really describes the type of sweetness I mean. It’s a very difficult fragrance to articulate. I recommend testing it on skin not a test strip. The outcome is entirely different. Hot couture is a contradiction in ways, fresh & clean, yet dirty and dusty. Youthful, yet powdery and classy. Fresh, expensive Tobacco but not even a hint of smoke. Very strange yet totally intoxicating. I feel it’s quite versatile. Day, night, winter, summer… this could fly for any season or time. I have a feeling this will become a favorite of mine really fast! It’s easily one of the longest lasting fragrances in my sizeable collection. My skin holds very few perfumes but it clings to this one for dear life! 8 hours + is totally unheard of for my chemistry but Hot Couture breaks through that norm as well. I’ve literally never smelled this on another person, EVER. So it’s a well kept secret at least in Portland.
pseumegisee – :
I was at Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s to buy Coco Mademoiselle when it debuted, and the cashier looked at me and said, “No, no, no. You need to try Hot Couture first. Hot Couture is a perfect fragrance for a blonde.” Such an odd thing to say, but I tried it. I’m sure it had nothing to do with my blonde hair, but it was perfect for me at that time in my life – fresh, and fruity, and peppery, which deepened into warm musk.
In a world, for fruity/florals Hot Couture stands out for its lack of patchouli and lack of candy-sweetness. It does have a longevity problem, but I’m willing to overlook it for a trip down memory lane.
Annelsosy – :
This is one of those standout perfumes. It’s different and original and you have to keep sniffing at it just to try and decode it. I feel very lucky to have been given a bottle as a gift. I don’t think I would have stumbled upon it otherwise. What a gem!
Ctrelok100 – :
I had this perfume for 3 years and only now fell in love with it. It is very different it is sweet but not overly and it has this “wet quality” that I love in perfumes. “Wetness” gives interesting vibe and depth to perfumes and very rear. Can anyone tell me what is the difference between HC and HC N1? Please if you have both please describe the differences. N1 is hard to find and the pink one is I think was made first.
bogomerzkiy – :
This is ‘Hot heaven’ in a bottle…
Very sweet, very warm & a little smoky.
I haven’t even finished my 50ml,
but i’m definitely going to purchase at least
two more bottles!
The raspberry & pink pepper are the strongest of notes.
I can’t stop sniffing myself 🙂
As the scent dries down it gets better and better.
Successful blind buy!
councesom – :
Up until trying this fragrance, I’d always thought I hated perfume!
I received it for my eighteenth birthday and it was truly love at first sniff. It is fruity, peppery, spicy and sweet (in a developed kind of way) with a sophisticated dry-down featuring tobacco, cedar, and leather. I’m impressed by how Givenchy managed to balance playful fruity, sweet scents with sophisticated old-world ingredients but they have; creating something that is appropriate for women at any stage of their life. I recall wearing it on dates, at uni and later at work and it was always appropriate. I always got compliments on it and it ages well too! I also noticed that the notes continued to develop the longer I kept the bottle and by the end, it had become sweeter with the tobacco becoming more pronounced. I really enjoyed following its evolution.
I smelt again recently and it’s still great but I think my tastes have changed somewhat or maybe I have outgrown it because it wasn’t an immediate stand-out but despite those things, I still recommend you try it.
Darina – :
I used to wear this all the time many years ago. I wore it so much I got sick of wearing it and then forgot about it. I just bought it again thanks to a great sale, and I am once again loving it! It is yummy in a non-gourmand way. It is peppery and spicy but also creamy and berry-ish so it doesn’t go too much on either side of that pendulum. It is a definite must have and must wear even if I need to give it a 20 year or so break every now and then.
petrtotamovich – :
Smells like tart raspberries and champagne….fishnet pantyhose and hot sex in a dusty European hotel room….and I LIKE it!!! Unfortunately, this one goes a bit sour on my skin after a while, so I spray it on my clothes and hair instead of on my skin. This is a fragrance to wear when you feel fabulous, with glamorous textiles, stilettos and legs for days! Best for night, I think.
melv – :
This is a spicy, fruity and unique perfume. I’ve never encountered anything else that smells like it. I’m no longer keen to wear it myself, as it always makes me sneeze and/or gives me headaches.
This is not a commonly-worn perfume. The only time I’ve smelled it on someone else is when my mother tested it when we were shopping. It smelled a lot better on her than it did on me. I believe she still has a bottle, but she wears it very rarely.
I used to wear it to go to bars, clubs and restaurants but I don’t think it suited me. My skin amplified the pepper notes to an almost eye-watering extent. The raspberry note was noticeable in the opening, and it had an astringent raspberry tea quality to it. The vetiver is noticeable after a while. The notes work together to give the illusion of a tobacco tinge in the dry-down; on my skin this was like stale tobacco, as if I smoked a cigar a few hours ago. This caused a few people to not believe me when I told them that I quit smoking.
I don’t find this scent very feminine but I wouldn’t call it unisex, either. I find it harsh. The way it smells on me is what I imagine seething irritation smells like, if it smells like anything. What appealed to me about it was how clever and sassy it smells. I think only a few people can pull off this scent. Somewhere out there is a person who is perfect for this perfume.
The longevity is good and the sillage is moderate, so it is worth the money if you can make it work for you.
emr703speagoessenda – :
I’m a little disappointed with this one- It only seems to last an hour or so on me….I like it at first spray, which is a yummy fruity incense but it turns very quickly into a really faint burnt sugar smell….a little like toffee apples…. and then sort of fades away- It’s nice while it lasts, but I was expecting more based on the rave reviews here! It might just be my skin/chemistry that doesn’t work well with it. Oh well, onwards with the search for my signature! (This is a review for the perfume rather than the EDT)
EDIT- Now that the temperature has dropped this seems to last much longer on my skin (plus I spray a little extra on my clothes) and I really love it! The boyfriend also loves it and can’t stop smelling my neck 🙂 I’ve had compliments galore too- Winner.
al73eks – :
Spicy, smokey raspberry. Sexy.
dimon-lk – :
It smells fruity and feminine to me. The scent doesn’t match the name at all I was expecting something rich and heavy and spicy and sexy. To me this is just an exotic fruity scent. It’s rather generic for me. The name is very misleading.
Proffy777 – :
On me it was all about the vetiver and spices, giving Hot Couture a smokey and spicy scent. Sillage was heavy to moderate and lasted for 3 hours, longevity also moderate 5 to 6 hours.But it was too much spicy and smoky and I got only a soft raspberry so I didn’t like it much on me.
wailssmat – :
I blind bought this for a great price, it’s always been on my radar since gourmand, over the top sweeties are my thing.
Um…. ok? I applied this liberally and had a Bluth Family Moment…. “I have made a terrible mistake!” (Arrested Developement joke)
My husband detected the immediate orange/citrus in the opening, but all I got was PICKLES! I’m sure it was the pepper and wood/vetiver– this was not what I expected at all! Haha!
Then it calmed down to lose the pickles but it felt very cloying and sweet. Even to me! Long lasting, average to good sillage… and the next day my shirt smelled like Viva La Juicy, which I like. 🙂
Overall, not the best blind buy…. I probably would trade to try the EDT. Haha.
This is just too woody/smoky/pepper. I didn’t get any fruit/raspberry.
Then I read about the comparisons to Gucci Guilty, I immediately agreed, and it helped me appreciate the sweet/cloying middle more.
qq – :
A beautiful luxurious scent. I wear it when I want to feel exquisite.
ilyuha48 – :
With this one, I was expecting something really smoky and atmospheric, like a warm room swirling with flavoured cigars. Instead, this is super sweet, like those “artificially-sweetened” raspberries and reminds me of lollies (candy). A subtle sort of smokiness then comes out to play, which I think is the combination of the fresh vetiver and biting black pepper, before it mellows a bit, and becomes a touch creamier, indicating amber and sandalwood, but always remaining fruity and smooth and sweet in a syrupy sort of way. The raspberries remain on my skin from start to finish.
I found Hot Couture to be more raspberries than smokiness on my skin; I actually wanted more smoke! A solid tobacco note would have been perfect here, to create a heavier smoky berry scent. I would really love to buy something like that, as I think it would be unique for the wintertime. However, both men and women did compliment me on this playful scent as is, so I think that others do enjoy it 🙂
I will also mention that I tested this because I’m looking for perfumes for a pin-up girl, and I don’t really get anything “pin-up” about this one, but I suppose it would depend upon how much smoke your skin draws out of this fragrance. I will retest this during the warmer months to see if there is any change. A moderate sillage that calms down to soft after a few hours; longevity was for about 6-7 hours.
83902223939 – :
This is my second post about this lovely stuff, try and get the 5ml bottles of the original scent, there are still plenty around. I have about 10, so I’ll stop collecting now! Superb for summer. Fresh raspberry delight, lasts all day. Beautifully made xx
veilside – :
All perfumes go bad, it depends on light (keep it in the box), heat (if you live on a hot place beware) and humidity (if you live in a hot humid place doubly beware, in a few years, from 3 to 5, your perfume will have a great probability of become brownish and smell only of iron oxides). I live on the doubly whammy place so I have lost perfumes from the 60s (stored in boxes and in less warm places) bought by my father to 90s powerhouses to quite recent fruitchoulis.It is a very lucky person that will experience a vintage that will really smell like it did when manufactured.
RapHakspeasse – :
I love this perfume and would love to try the original…where can I find it and how do I know if it is actually the original? Does perfume go bad?
mashxxx – :
Smells like raspberry, smoke, wood, dirt and wet stones. I think this combination smells really good! It’s sexy and earthy. I once had and gave away the EDT. The EDT was lighter and brighter, more playful than sexy, but unfortunately had a distinct ashtray smell on me. For some reason, in the EDP the smoky note doesn’t turn ashtray on me.
MEL original – :
I get that it smells kinda smoky, but I don’t catch the tobacco that other people here have claimed… it has fruity notes, a thicker in-between-smell (not sure what it is… it doesn’t smell like tobacco on me though)… on the whole it smells very sophisticated – can induce a headache if you spray on too much – and very much so a smell that reminds me of clubbing…
I don’t go clubbing but it’s a 5/5 fragrance!
tdusernamef9 – :
I have a few bottles of the old, dark brown parfum: smoky, sexy, lovely. Am I the only one who smells pine? Loved it so much that I bought a bottle of the spray EDP from Amazon.
I was surprised that this version is a light brown, seemingly-diluted version that lasts only a few hours with almost zero sillage.
I’m going to stock up on the older, little dark-brown bottles of parfum, which I love.
veter336 – :
I really like this!
It’s absolutely a sister